Inishowen calling fans of the Beatles and Bob Dylan

Former Apple Records boss Tony Bramwell speaking to primary school children. Bramwell will return to the North West for a three day celebration of the Beatles in August. (0706PG23)

Published:11:49Friday 20 June 2014

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Paul McCartney once said that anyone who wanted to know anything about what the Beatles got up to should ask Tony Bramwell. “He remembers more than I do,” McCartney quipped.

There was no shortage of colourful anecdotes from the former Beatles Road Manager and CEO of Apple Records when he was hosted by the Redcastle Hotel at an informal reception on Wednesday.

Bramwell was at the hotel to discuss plans for the upcoming Beatlesfest, set to take place in Moville and Redcastle in August. Clearly impressed by his surroundings in Inishowen, the former record company manager and close personal friend of Sir Paul McCartney, told the Journal he could see himself retiring in the North West.

Bramwell’s endorsement of the festival is a major coup for Moville based organiser Gerry McLaughlin who attended Wednesday’s event. Working in partnership with the Redcastle Hotel for the first time, the local music festival planner says locals and tourists alike are in for some first class musical treats during this year’s Beatlesfest and Dylanfest.

“It’s great to see the Redcastle Hotel involved for the first time with four gigs for the BeatlesFest on the bank holiday weekend and three for the DylanFest. It’s a great setting for it. Their experience in PR and marketing will help bring even more people to the festivals. Mind you, we should not be short of PR this year with Tony Bramwell being the PR guys for the Beatles Apple record and film labels,” he joked.

The Moville man has also confirmed a stellar line up for this year’s Dylanfest and has promised a treat for fans of Bob Dylan and music fans in general.

“The number of quality acts available for the DylanFest is the highest ever with last year’s big act Al Diesan from Cagliari in Sardinia back. Al’s main rival in Sardinia, Riccardo DiLusso, has also contacted us and told us he is coming this year. Also coming back again for first time since 2011 will be the popular Jacques Mees who runs the Netherland’s DylanFest. One act that we are trying to get over is Bobby Does Dylan from Scotland. Bob Dylan saw a video of him playing at the Oran Mor in Glasgow and contacted him saying he wanted to meet him which he duly did last November.” Beatlesfest takes place in Moville and Redcastle from August 1-3 and Dylanfest from August 21-24